missouri department of health and senior services division of community and public health oral...

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Division of Community and Public Health

Oral Health Program

Oral HealthOral HealthBrush Away Tooth DecayBrush Away Tooth Decay

First Grade

Why do we need our teeth?Why do we need our teeth?

Eating!Eating!

To chew our food. To chew our food. That’s an easy one! Can That’s an easy one! Can you imagine trying to eatyou imagine trying to eatan apple, carrot or a an apple, carrot or a hamburger without teeth? hamburger without teeth?

It would be pretty hard, It would be pretty hard, wouldn’t it?wouldn’t it?

Why do we need our teeth?Why do we need our teeth?

Speaking!Speaking!Our tongue, lips and cheeks Our tongue, lips and cheeks help us pronounce words!help us pronounce words!

Why do we need our teeth?Why do we need our teeth?

Smiling!Smiling!We need our teeth in order to We need our teeth in order to look our very best!look our very best!

Why do we need our baby teeth?Why do we need our baby teeth?

They act as space savers.They act as space savers.

They guide the They guide the permanent teeth into permanent teeth into place. place.

The permanent teeth are white, the baby teeth are gray.

Moss, Growing Up Cavity Free: A Parent's Guide To Prevention, Quintessence Publishing Co., 1993

What a tooth looks like.What a tooth looks like.

The CROWN:The CROWN:

The part of the tooth The part of the tooth above the gums.above the gums.

Just like a king’s hat!Just like a king’s hat!

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

What a tooth looks like.What a tooth looks like.The ROOT:The ROOT:

The part of the tooth The part of the tooth below the gumline.below the gumline.

Just as the roots of a tree Just as the roots of a tree hold the tree in the hold the tree in the ground, the roots of your ground, the roots of your teeth hold your teeth in teeth hold your teeth in your mouth.your mouth.

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3; 3rdrd Edition; 1993 Edition; 1993

The tooth is made of 3 layers:The tooth is made of 3 layers:

ENAMEL:ENAMEL:

Covers the crown.Covers the crown.

Is the protective Is the protective covering.covering.

Is the hardest thing in Is the hardest thing in our body, even our body, even harder than bone!harder than bone!

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

The tooth is made of 3 layers:The tooth is made of 3 layers:

DENTIN:DENTIN:Is underneath the enamel. Is underneath the enamel.

Makes up the largest part of Makes up the largest part of our teeth.our teeth.

Is very hard (about the same Is very hard (about the same hardness as our bones--- but hardness as our bones--- but not as hard as enamel).not as hard as enamel).

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

The tooth is made of 3 layers:The tooth is made of 3 layers:

PULP:PULP: Fills the space inside Fills the space inside

the tooth.the tooth.

Contains blood Contains blood vessels and nerves vessels and nerves that keep the tooth that keep the tooth alive!alive! Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; ; 3rd Edition;

19931993

Now that we know what a tooth looks like, Now that we know what a tooth looks like, let’s talk about what makes a cavity in let’s talk about what makes a cavity in your tooth!your tooth!

Cavities are caused by Cavities are caused by PLAQUEPLAQUE!!

What is What is PLAQUEPLAQUE??An invisible film of germs that constantly An invisible film of germs that constantly grows on your teeth.grows on your teeth.

It feels fuzzy. Rub your tongue on your It feels fuzzy. Rub your tongue on your teeth, do they feel fuzzy?teeth, do they feel fuzzy?

You brush your teeth to remove PLAQUE!You brush your teeth to remove PLAQUE!

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

TOOTH DECAYTOOTH DECAY

An An ACIDACID is: is:Something that eats throughSomething that eats throughsomething else.something else.

When ACID sits on your When ACID sits on your teeth, it eats through your teeth, it eats through your teeth, making a hole or teeth, making a hole or “cavity.” This is tooth decay!“cavity.” This is tooth decay!

Plaque + Sugary Foods = ACID

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

More on TOOTH DECAYMore on TOOTH DECAYIf you have a small cavityIf you have a small cavity(tooth decay) and you…(tooth decay) and you…

Visit the dentist regularlyVisit the dentist regularly Have fluoride applied to your teeth Have fluoride applied to your teeth Do a good job brushingDo a good job brushing Eat the right foods Eat the right foods The cavity (tooth decay) mayThe cavity (tooth decay) maynot spread further.not spread further.

But if…But if…You are not taking care of You are not taking care of your teeth as you should, and your teeth as you should, and the decay spreads…the decay spreads…

A dentist will need to take A dentist will need to take out the decay and put in a out the decay and put in a filling.filling.

It may look small from the It may look small from the outside --- but an x-ray shows outside --- but an x-ray shows the decay is in the dentin, the decay is in the dentin, which is softer than enamel.which is softer than enamel.

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

And if…And if…

You You havehave tooth decay, and tooth decay, and you are not being checked you are not being checked regularly by a dentist…regularly by a dentist…

The decay may continueThe decay may continue

into the pulp!into the pulp!

When this happens, it canWhen this happens, it can

cause you to have acause you to have a

toothache!toothache!

Missouri Show – Me Your SmileMissouri Show – Me Your Smile ; 3rd Edition; 1993; 3rd Edition; 1993

If this happens…If this happens…

A dentist might have to take A dentist might have to take your tooth out!your tooth out!

If a tooth is removed, it canIf a tooth is removed, it can

cause all sorts of problems…cause all sorts of problems…

So it’s important to take So it’s important to take good care of your teeth and good care of your teeth and fight TOOTH DECAY!fight TOOTH DECAY!

One of the best ways to fight One of the best ways to fight TOOTH DECAY is:TOOTH DECAY is:

Avoid sugary snacks!Avoid sugary snacks!

Can anyone nameCan anyone name

some sugary snacks?some sugary snacks?

Can you cut out all sugar from your diet? Can you cut out all sugar from your diet? NO, but you can cut down on it!NO, but you can cut down on it!

If you eat sweets:If you eat sweets:

Eat them at meal times.Eat them at meal times.

Brush your teeth afterward.Brush your teeth afterward.

If you cannot brush, swish with If you cannot brush, swish with water and swallow! This helps water and swallow! This helps to remove food particles from to remove food particles from your teeth.your teeth.

Can you name some snacks that would Can you name some snacks that would be healthier for both our bodies and our be healthier for both our bodies and our teeth?teeth?

There are many snacksThere are many snacksthat not only taste good,that not only taste good,but are good for you.but are good for you.Some foods can also helpSome foods can also helpclean the plaque off theclean the plaque off theteeth like hard crunchyteeth like hard crunchyapples or cheeses.apples or cheeses.

Plaque continues to grow on our Plaque continues to grow on our teeth everyday!teeth everyday!

It can be removed withIt can be removed withproper brushing.proper brushing.

Always use a toothpaste with Always use a toothpaste with fluoride in it!fluoride in it!

Fluoride helps make teeth Fluoride helps make teeth stronger, so decay bugs and stronger, so decay bugs and acids can’t hurt them.acids can’t hurt them.

Let’s review proper toothLet’s review proper toothbrushing…brushing…

Use a soft bristled toothbrush.Use a soft bristled toothbrush.

Use Fluoride toothpaste.Use Fluoride toothpaste.

When should you brush When should you brush your teeth?your teeth?

• After eatingAfter eating

• At bedtimeAt bedtime

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Oral Health Program

Get a new toothbrush…Get a new toothbrush…

Every 3 months.Every 3 months.When yours becomes frayed. When yours becomes frayed. After you have been sick.After you have been sick.

Don’t share your toothbrush Don’t share your toothbrush with anyone else! with anyone else!

Be sure to visit your dentist Be sure to visit your dentist 2 times each year.2 times each year.

If you have a cavity, the dentist will If you have a cavity, the dentist will be able to find it when it is small.be able to find it when it is small.

The dentist or dental hygienist will The dentist or dental hygienist will apply fluoride to your teeth.apply fluoride to your teeth.

Dental sealants may be placed on Dental sealants may be placed on your permanent back teeth to help your permanent back teeth to help prevent tooth decay.prevent tooth decay.

What are dental sealants?What are dental sealants?A coating put on the top of permanent back A coating put on the top of permanent back teeth to help keep the decay bugs out.teeth to help keep the decay bugs out.

Tooth without a dental sealant. Tooth with a dental sealant.

Courtesy of Dr. Craig Hollander D.D.S.Courtesy of Dr. Craig Hollander D.D.S. Courtesy of Dr. Craig Hollander D.D.S.Courtesy of Dr. Craig Hollander D.D.S.

Keep smiling andKeep smiling andthank you for listening!thank you for listening!

An additional recommended resource for viewing:Dr. Rabbit’s World Tour video (Colgate).

For more information regarding this resource contact www.colgate.com

Photos: Microsoft product box shots reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. All photos obtained from office.microsoft.com/clipart unless otherwise noted.All photos obtained from office.microsoft.com/clipart unless otherwise noted.

This presentation has been adapted and used with permission from theDental Health Program developed by the Clay County Public Health Center.